MSU provost making return to school

Stewart had worked as dean of College of Science and Math

Stewart will return to MSU as its provost and vice president for academic affairs Aug. 1.

Betty Stewart will return to Midwestern State University as its provost and vice president for academic affairs, starting Aug. 1.

Stewart formerly served at MSU from 2006-10 as the dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, then left to take a position as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla.

"Betty's academic background, continuing record of scholarship, and administrative experience make her well-suited to serve in this capacity," said MSU President Jesse Rogers. "We are pleased that she will be returning to campus."

Under Stewart's direction, MSU's mechanical engineering program received accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology in August 2009.

Stewart also presided then over the MSU renovation of the 23,000-square-foot McCoy School of Engineering facility.

The renovated $6.2 million facility featured three high bay laboratories for robotics, invention and senior design, and study pods that overhang the labs, providing an interactive dimension.

Stewart earned her Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Mississippi State and her doctorate in protein biochemistry, biological sciences from Carnegie-Mellon University.

Before her first tenure at MSU, she taught chemistry at Austin College in Sherman and served as the chair of the department from 2000 to 2006.

Stewart replaces Alisa White, who served as provost for two years and leaves to take a similar position at the University of Texas at Tyler, where she was formerly employed as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The spot Stewart vacated at MSU in 2010 as dean of the College of Science and Mathematics was permanently filled just weeks ago. After Stewart left, her spot was filled by interim Dean Rodney Cate, an MSU chemistry professor.

The position was permanently filled in May with the hire of Lynn Little, currently dean of the School of Science and Mathematics of Howard Payne University, a private liberal arts university in Brownwood.